“Please,” she said, almost scowling--as if she could scowl, “Please don’t call me that.”

“There are differences, Lafrindyx,” I repeated.

“So your parents aren’t royalty. So? That’s not to say you’re less wise or intelligent. That’s not to say I have any idea what I’m doing out there, day after day, changing people’s lives.”

“Who am I supposed to get wisdom from?” I asked. “You’re the only role model I have! The king and queen are airheads; even you know that.”

“Those are my parents you’re talking about,” Lafrindyx said, somewhat heatedly. “But it is true that they don’t always model the epitome of wisdom. Still, I would be as powerless as you if not for my parents.”

“And that,” I said, smoothing a final wrinkle out of her robes, “is the difference between us.”

“It’s not fair,” Lafrindyx muttered. “You should be. Or I shouldn’t be. We should be the same, one way or another.” She looked up suddenly. She had moments like that, moments where she was so transparent, so passionate that it was as though I could see down her eyes through to her very soul, and it was a furnace. “I want to change things, Anhia.”

“Well, good luck with that,” I snorted. (Only the princess’s favorite attendant could get away with snorting at her.) “I don’t think you’ll be able to change millennia of tradition in a single lifetime, no matter how noble your goal. Get out in that throne room! Help who you can. That’s all any of us can really do.”

Story summary

When Anhia embarks on a journey to become a Gemkeeper, she doesn't even know what that entails--nor is she aware of the political chaos in which she is about to become hopelessly entangled. She'll have to mediate between enemy Gem Tribes or risk getting killed herself. Did I mention she also has to make sure the princess remains safe?

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Author guidance

There is no need to keep track of all the characters, especially all the Gemkeepers mentioned in the Prologue. Please listen to the soundtrack as you read. The beginning parts of the songs go with their assigned pages; the later parts of the songs were not accounted for when selecting ambiance music. Enjoy!

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